Film negative supporting frame



May 28, 1957 F. A. STIRRUP 7 FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAME Filed April 12, 1956 I I I I u L "In. "11. )L Hm. l|.. H lln. 'llllllh I "n. I i I5 I v I INVENTOR FRANK A. S R

BY sway? ATTO R N EY United States Patent FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAME Frank A. Stirrup, Plainfield, N. J.

Application April 12, 1956, Serial No. 577,695

3 Claims. (Cl. 95-100) This invention relates to frames for use in the support of X-ray picture films in the operation of developing and drying the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a frame structure of the character described employing nesting rectangular frames which are directly pivoted together and both of which are formed from sheet metal strips of L-shaped cross-sectional form.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the character described, wherein the frames have cooperating means for checking opening movement of the frames, so as to facilitate placement and removal of film with respect to the main frame in the use of the device.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a film supporting device made according to my invention, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, illustrating one of the frames in open position in full lines and in closed position in dot-dash lines; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial Number 568,860, filed March 1, 1956.

In the drawing, 10 represents a main frame, which is L-shaped or rangle'iron cross-sectional form, in other words, includes a bottom rail 11 and an upstanding outer rail 12 throughout the entire length of the frame, except that the protruding end portions 13 of the side members 14 of the frame are bent inwardly, as indicated at 15, to fit within a small channel crossrod 16, to which the ends 13 are welded or otherwise secured. The crossrod 16 has a short end 17 and the longer end 18 includes a downwardly directed pin 19.

The lower cross-member 20 of the frame 10 is integral with the strip forming the side members 14 and the lower rails 11 are cutout and welded together where they abut, similar to the abutment of the lower rails 21 of a clamp frame 22, as indicated at 23. The main frame 10 includes a crossframe 24 spaced inwardly of the ends 13, the member 24 being also L-shaped or angleiron in crosssectional form and this crossfirame is welded to the lower rails 11 of the side members 14 of the frame with the bottom rail 25 of the member 24 in alinement with the rail 11.

For sake of clarity, the clamp frame 22, or the upstanding rails 26 thereof, are shown widely spaced from the upstanding rails 12 of the frame 10. In actual practice, these two upstanding rails can be in close proximity to each other, at least, sufficiently close to provide free movement of the frame 22 in the frame 10..

The side members of the frame 22 include upwardly projecting arms 27, the free end portions of which are directly pivoted to the frame 10, as seen at 28, the arms 27 or the lower rail 21 thereof being cutout, as seen at 28, adjacent the pivot, so as to provide free swinging movement of the frame 22; whereas, the upstanding rails 26 are cutout, at their free ends, to form stop shoulders 29, which are adapted to abut end walls 30 of elongated apertures 31 formed in the bottom rails 11 of the main frame, as clearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This construction provides a definite check or stop limiting upward swinging movement of the frame 22, while, at the same time, supporting this frame in 1a reclining position, so as to give free access to the rectangular portion of the frame 10 in the placement of film therein, as well as removal of film therefrom.

The corner portions of the rectangular portion of the main frame have rubber or other cushioning pads 32, upon which corner portions of a film 33, note Fig. 2, are adapted to be arranged; whereupon, in moving the clamp frame 22 into the lowered or clamping position, downwardly extending beads 34 on the lower rails 21, at corner portions of the frame 22 and on the lower rail 35 of a orossframe member 36, will bear in positively retaining the film in position within the frames. The crossframe member 36 is also L-shaped or of angleiron crosssectional form and the upstanding member 37 thereof is cutout to receive the rail 21.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing, that the lower rail 35 is arranged below the rail 21. The member 24 is also cutout to receive the extending arms 27 of the frame 22 to provide free swinging movement of the frame.

Secured to the lower rails 11 of the main frame 10 adjacent corner portions of the main frame, by welding or otherwise, are the legs or anchor portions 38 of spring clips 39, having rounded or cam-like upper portions 40. The spring clips are normally tensioned to extend into the path of the swinging frame 22. However, it is preferred that slight projections in the form of plates 41 be provided on the outer surface of the raised rails 26 to engage the spring clip in support of the frame 22 in closed 'or operative position, this structure being clearly noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing. It will also appear that the upstanding rails 12 of the main frame are cutout, as seen at 42, to provide free action of the spring clips 39.

Welded to inner surfaces of the upstanding rail 26 of the 'crosshead of the frame 22 are L-shaped fingerpiece portion 43 which extend outwardly above and beyond the crosshead '20 of the main frame at corner portions thereof and these fingerpieces are utilized in separating the frames, in other words, raising the clamp frame 22 against the action of the clips 39 to release the frame for free swinging movement into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

With my improved film supporting device, it will appear that the raised walls or rails of the rectangular portion of the main frame facilitates positioning of the film within said rectangular portion, preparatory to lowering the clamp frame in the operation of securely clamping the film in position in the developing and drying operations which are usually performed in processing film of the kind under consideration.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A supporting device of the character described, comprising a main frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form and defined by a rectangular frame portion, the sides of which include extensions, a cross-bar secured to said extensions, a rectangular clamp frame of L-shaped crosssectional form throughout and adapted to seat within the rectangular portion of the main frame, side members of the clamp frame having extending arms of L-shaped cross-sectional form arranged within the extensions of the at side portions thereof, for yieldably retaining the clamp frame in closed position on the main frame, and ends of the upstanding rails of said arms, adjacent the pivot means, having stop shoulders cooperating with means on the extensions of the main frame in checkingjopening, swinging movement of the clamp frame with respect to said main frame. 2. A supporting device of the character described, comprising a main frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form and defined by a rectangular frame portion, the sides of which include extensions, a cross-bar secured to said extensions, a rectangular clamp frame of L-shaped crosssectional form throughout and adapted to. seat within the rectangular portion of the mainframe, side members of the clamp frame having extending arms of L-shaped cross-sectional for-m arranged Within the extensions of the main frame, said arms having lower and upstanding rails, means for directly pivoting end portions of said upstanding rails to the extensions of the main frame, interengaging spring means on the main and clamp frames, at side portions thereof, for yieldably retaining the clamp frame in closed position on the main frame, ends of the upstanding rails of said arms, adjacent the pivot means, having stop shoulders, and said stop shoulders operating in and engaging end walls of elongated apertures in the extensions of the main frame to check opening, swinging movement of the clamp frame.

3. A supporting device of the character described, comprising a main frame of L-shaped cross-sectional form and defined by a rectangular frame portion, the sides of which include extensions, a cross-bar secured to said extensions, a rectangular clamp frame of L-sh-aped cross-sectional form throughout and adapted to seat 5 within the rectangular portion of the main frame, side members of the clamp frame having extending arms of L-shaped cross-sectional form arranged within the extensions of the main frame, said arms having lower and upstanding rails, means for directly pivoting end portions of said upstanding rails to the extensions of the main frame, interengaging spring means on the main and clamp frames, at side portions thereof, for yieldably retaining the clamp frame in closed position on the main frame, ends of the upstanding rails of said arms, adjacent the pivot means, having stop shoulders cooperating with means on the extensions of the main frame in checking opening, swinging movement of the clamp frame with respect to said main frame, said spring means comprising spring clips fixed to sides of, the main frame and operatively engaging extended portions on upstanding rails at sides of the clamp frame, and fingerpieces secured to lower corner portions of the clamp frame and overlying and extending beyond the limits of the main frame to facilitate manual separation of the frames against the action of said spring clips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,348,153 Core Aug. 3, 1920 1,508,947! Allen Sept. 16, 1924 1,858,576 Bornmann May 17, 1932 2,429,499 Wolf Oct. 21, 1947 2,774,291 Domenech Dec. 18, 1956 

